Retort.



H. Pf osAPH. FETORT. APPLICAHON HLED JAN` I9. 1916- RENEWED SEPT. 16. |916' Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

HARVEY P. BOSTAPH, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Rmon'r.

Application led January 19, 1916. Serial No. 73,011.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I. HARVEY P. Bos'rAPH, a. citizen o't the United States, residing at Detroit, in the eonntyiof Wayne and. State of )l'iehigainhave invented a new and useful Retort, of which the following is a specification.

This:` invention has reference to retorts for the destructive distillation of eoal, and its object is to provide a retort for such purpose whereby the eoal is eonverted into coke capable of burning with a long smokeless flame, and .vherehy the volatile matter driven oft during the eoking operation and recoverable is ol" increased quantity and of superior duality. i

Tn aeeordaiue with the present invention the ret'ort is so constructed as to eontain the roal to he treated in relativel)Y narrow columns, .15o arranged that heatapplied to the y exterior ot the retort actsl on eaeh eollunn of roal along one long edge and progressively toward the other long;` edge. with the gases ot' distillation eeeaping' Vfrom the column of roal along the long edge remote from that to which the heat in initiallv applied, sueh esi-ape being facilitated hy the5produeti ni of snlintniospherir: conditions.

l"or eonnnereal vreasons; the retort is 5o ronstrueted as to inelude a series of thin rolunins of eoal grouped :iliout a central duct into whieh the gases; of distillation pass, and i'ronl wliivh the)Y are. witlnll'awn. while the wiiliunns are separated h v division walls, extending: lroui the central duet to theoilter shell. of' tlnl retort. thus providing heat eonshn-tinlej nn'ans ol' greater 'permeability to heat than the columns of raoul.

'l he retort is eustonnxrily` made of columnar-Forni with 'a rentral longitudinal duet and radial division walls extending there- 'roin to thiI shell oi' the retntl-.whereby the roal eollunnhy are ot segmental eroswseetion of greater radial depthlhan ',ireuniferential \vidth.`anil eaeh eollunu communicates with the ventral duet along the inner long edge.

The retort has the rentra] duet and all or some otl the wells constituting a reniovable eore for the sila-li oi' the retort. ln-roby the core mayl laf lowered ll'rrnn the. retortjn o rder to dixrhareje the coke and 'at the saune time Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Renewed September 16l 1918. Serial No. 120,582A

gnliirienttv ehill the core that when again introduced into the retort and the latter is charged with coal, the temperature to which the coal is initiall)r subjected is considerably lower than the temperature to which the retort is constantly subjected, so that the coal is treated progressively hy heat conducted roin the outer edges ot' the eoal columns toward the inner edges thereof', because ofthe heat. eornluctivity of the division walls. The separate eore facilitates the discharge ofthe eoked contents of the retort, this discharge.

being.r further facilitated by initial cooling due to the introduction of steam into the rel tort.

The. invention will he best understood changes and nnnlilieations come within the scope ol the appended rlailns.

ln the. drawingsz-l`ignre l is a longitudinal vertical section of a retort; embodyilngr the present invention. i"ig. i! is an elevation partiall)Y in section ehowing.; the hottoln end ol' the retort and the eol'e lowered therel'roin. as well as some portiolm of the core lowering and lifting' means. Fig. 3i is n rroHh-se'tion oll the rore un the lille iin-"i ot' Fig. l. Fig. l` is a cross-simtirni of a fragment of the retort shell and core showinga` slight niodiliration.

Referring' to the drawings there is shown a shell lv of collunnar i'orni, whieh in the installed position is upright. and this shelltapent#` l'ronl the liottoni toward the top au'd is i'reeA l'roin interior olietruetion. rl`he up per and lower ends oll the shell are provided with rlosuresin the forni of heads 2 and 3, rohpertivel'v. rl`he ln-afl 2 has a oirrun|ferrntial grooveon ita under I'aee at `it,.-;pe ripheral portion to reeeivn a packing lgasket I' hearing! against the upper edge of the shell l.'whrreh v the retort luav lie herlnetieally rllofed hy thehead :2. "l`o hold the hea'd .by they set "the rods .21 enter other sockets in place it is prorided with outstanding lues 5 and the bod)y or shell l of the retort has ears (5 thereon carrying eye bolts adapted to the lugs o. whereby the head 1. while readily removable from the retort. clamped thercagminst` central c re b constitutes a convenient means for lifting the head .2 'from the retort shell or body l when it is desired.

Surrounding the shell is an iut-losing wall il which may be made of tire brick of an \V .suitable form. the inner wall of the firehrick envelop heingir in spaced relation to the outer wall of the retort shelh such spacing being sullieient to insure an eren distribution of heat applied to the outer wall of the envelop 0 and transmitted through the lire brick lo the retort.

The lower head has a nmrgiual flange l0 ronstituting a ledge carrying! a packin r gasket 1i hearing against the lower end of the` lshell i. beine; held tightly thereto by eye bolts i2 engaging lugs lll projecting from the llange l0 and carried by ears 1l ou the lower end of the shell when in projecting relation to the outer wall thereof. 'l`he ears l-i form part of brackets 15 on the retort shell engagine' channel heains 1G forming part of the framework of the installation. rlhe beams 1G carry a loor 1T upon which is supported thc fire-brick wall or envelop 9. commercial installation includes as man)y retorts as may he desired. so that the channel beams lli and the floor li' mav be considered as but parts'of an installation including..r a batteriI of retorts aud including means for the application of heat to the exterior of the envelop 9.

On that surface of the head il which in the installed position constitutes the upper face thereof. there is jformed a central socket 1S and surrounding sockets 19. which latter may he provided with set screws 20. The. sockets 19 receive upright rods 21 which ma)y bc held thereto in any desired position screws Q0. At the upper ends 9,9, formed on the under face of a frusto-conieal bottom plate. 2? forming part of a core Z-l adapted to the shell l for a purpose which will presentlyr appear. Each socket 22 is provided with a sel'. screw Q5. so that b v' means of the-set screws 20 and 9.5 and the rods 2l the core may he spaced from the head 3 to form a chamber QF.

Rising centrally from the plate Q3 is a tubular duct 27 extending.r to a height somewhat short of the. top of the shelll and there carrying a distributing hood 2S hav im.,r sido openings .29 through it.

Radiation from the. tubular duet 27 are webs 30 arranged in circular series` and in the particular construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the webs are all carried by the core. Between the webs the wall of the duct 27 has perforntions 31 therethrough. The webs extendiin radial relation to the duet 27 into close relation at their outer edges to the inner wall of the shell 1, but clearance is provided to allow for expansion of the parts when the retort is heated, the plate "23 also being of a diameter to allow some clearance. It is feasible to hare some ot' the webs, say, the alternate ones, project inwartll)T from the shell. Such alternate arrangement of the webs is shown in Fig.

l. illustrating a small portion of the core with outwardly projectingwebs 30 alternatia;y with other like webs 30 projecting inwardljiy from the shell 1. i

The socket 1S receives the lower end of a rod 3Q. having;Ir at the upper end a baille plate 33 enteringlr the lower end of the duet QT. the purpose of this plate being to prerent radiation of heat into the chamber 26 to an \r harmful extent.

.it the upper end of the retort is an outlet pipe 34 for conducting awa)y the gases of distillation and through which subatmosplierie conditions may he established and maintained duringr the cokng operation. Near the bottom of the retort in position to enter the chamber 3G is another pipe 35 b v means of which steam ma)y he introduced into the chamber QG for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

la the use of the retort the core 2l is remoredland replaced `from time to time, and one means for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in Figs. l and 2. rlhere. is proridcd a frame ll' in which there a carrier Il? supported h v ropes or cables 3S passed orcr pulleys Illl and carl-' ving.lr counterweights lll. rl`he carrier 23T has thereon a post ll in position to enter a socket 42 'formed on the under side ol" the head 3. The counterweights are sullieient to orerbalnnce the core il and hohl it within the retort when the retort containsl no charge, but the core with a charge. therein is of Sufficient weight to orerlmlance the couuterweights 40. With the. core lodged within the retort shell l and the head 3, clamped in place. but with thc head :l removed. the retort is ready to he charged with lhe coal to be coked. are other carhonaccous materials besides the substance known as coal which may be coked. hut-for the sake'of sinlplicit of description coal only will be referred tn with the understanding that the word is intended to eorer :uw other material suit-able for the purpose.

'lhe coa'l is intl-minced through the` then open. upper end of the retort and fallingr upon the hood 2S. wlich protects the. duct .Tfrom access of thel coal. the various tuhes'orchambers indicated at 43 and defined between the webs BO. tho duct 2i' and the shell 1, the plate Ql forminglr an outwardly declining bottom closure for the coal tubes or chambers. After the coal tubes is distributed into 2;*

have been tillctl with coal, the cover 2 is Sccui'ed in platre and subatmosl'iheric conditions aro established throlttgh thv pipe 3l.

VIltat; applivil to the vxtvrior of tht: retortJ-` tirst. atlvct tht: toa] volunins within the tubes ,or chambers Alil at thviv outer long ledges and progrvasirvly towartl the duct 27. The heat is voniflufftvtl by thv wvbs 5i() `troni the 0X- tvrior of thv rvtort towartl thv cvntvx thereof, thvsv wvha presenting hvttvl heat con tluvtoruthan thv A'utl. 'l`hv rvsult is that distillation unil rotting bvgfins at the outvr long vrlgv ot' vavh ooluntn anrl vontinnvs to ward thv innvr long vilgo without rvtluiring that thv pvriphvril hv trvatvll toan objectionablv tvmpvratnrv. as would hv thu vasv wcru hvat to rlistil thv. vvutvr of thv naiss voniluctvil through thv volcvtl pvriphvral portions. Hinvv thv gasvs arv livingr continually uithilrawn thvrv is no vhanvv of vnrvloping the t|vv|ur portions ot vavh volulnn ol' voal in Colivtl matt-rial, whvrvb \v thv vuvapv, oll gauvS woultl bv hanipvivrl unil a high tvlnpvratuiv hv nvvvrssalw to vtt'vvt thv rolnplvtv vokingr otl thv vmatvrial. 'lnstvafh thv action ot' the hvat l'roni onv vilgfv ot' vai-h roal voluniu to thv oppositv vtlgv provvvilu` progressivi-ly anil Inallr protlucvs a unit'oria voking throughout thv `volumn. so that thv colcing is von'iplvtvll within a voninivrvialllv rva- Honahlv tilnv anrl hvnvtivial rvsultsarv obtainvtl whivh will bv apparvnt to thomsltillvil in thv art.

Ivvausv of thv vonstruvtion ol: thu retort anil thv protluvtiou of .whatmosphvriv preslaurv within thv rvtort flaring thv voicing opvration. thv wholv opvration is pvrtoriuvtl at a vompai'ati\'vl.\' low hvat not vxvvvtlin,"r ahout 110W' 1"., thv prot-vas lut-grinning! at ahout 700" I9. with thv hvat ilivrvasintr pro- Yrvusirvly through thv vollunn ol' voal up to thv hitfhvr tvni|u-raturv` which usually is trom 100W to t100 lt.. although for .somv voals it mayv hv as low au SIMO It".

rl`hv vokintr opvration rua hv varrivil on vontinuouuly with thv maximum hvat vnr ployvil ulaintaiuvtl in thv spavv vxtvrioi' to thv Ilia-itrilnitiiuir walt !l. .\:o`that suvh wall unil thv shvll ot thv rvtort arv ut ahout' ltltitl" or lllltl" I?. all thv tilnv. 'llvn thv, vhuigv ol' voal within thv rvtort hals hvvo voltvil to thv lvsirvil vxtvnt. Ftvaui is i||trol|uvv l through thv pi||v :i5 into thv vhanibvr "iti aait .kvl'vv` to vool rlown thv voltvso that it will shrink yQutlvivntlyA to looavn from thv walla4 of thv voal tuhvs. rlhvn thv hvtul 55 is rvlva v|l unil tliv'wvi 5ht ol' thv vorv 2t with thv vhai'tfv olI voli'v val'livil thvivll ht:- iug hullivivnt to orvrvoinv thv vol|ntvr\\'vif. fht.s itl. thv vorv will trop troni tllv trtol't. thv luorvlnvnt lvin,v-ioutrollv l b v hralvs or othvr suitahlv vontrol'ling tlvrivvs not Shown.

rvtort shvll l tluI voltv gravitatva froln, thv vorv` this hviug.r l'avilitatvil hy thv slanting vbottom plate 23. Then the lifting effect of thv vountcrwvights -lfl is superior to the wvight/ol' thv voro anrl the latter risvs again `into thc rvtort` whvrvupon thv hottoin head It is lnarlv taut anti the corvi' 2 haring hcn' rvniorvil. a frvsh charge ot' coal is introiluvvil. 'l`hv operation ot lischarging thv. vokv is sullicivnt to vhill thv interior of the rvtoi't lown to ahout 700' F., so that thv nvw vhargv is at lirst suhjvvtvil to noigrvatvr rlvgrvv ot' hvat than about 700 It.,` and .is thvn graduali)l hvatvit hlv vontluction up to 10H0 or 11H0'` l". in avvowlancv with thvl hvat lnaintaiuvd vxtvrior to thv rvtort. `This hvatingr. howvrvr, is not unilorin throughout vavh vohnnn ot' coal. hut progrvsuvs from the ontvr vilgv towaril thv innvr t-(lgv .of euch volunni. at whit-h lutti-r point thv gases vuvalu'.

lCxpvrivnvv has ilvtuontrattul that certain proportions or sizvs are material to the` suC- f-vssl'ul operation ot" thv rvtort. [n a Comnrvruial torni ot thv rvtort thv slivll 1 is nino t'vvttour invhvu in lvnggth. anrl thv voro 24 in svrvn fvvt in lviufth. 'l`hv liamvtvr ofthe vorv :it thv top is t\\'vnt \'thrvv invhvsl and at thv bottoni is twvntr-svrvn :ual thrvv-vighths int-hva. 'lhv walls; ot' thv rvtort are appr0xiinatvlr onv invh iu thivlmvss. whileA thv. webs It() anil thv wall ol thv (luvt )T are approxilnatvlithrvv-tourths ot' an inch in thickness.,

'l'hv voal tuhva -l-i in thv particular retort rvt'vrrvfl to ha rv thvir virvuultvrvntial width :l littlv lvss than tvur invhvs. or about thretx alul ninv: ixtvvntln-'. and their radial depth ranting l'roin about xix invhvrI at the uppetjA vlul to about vight invhvs at the lower end.

'lhv vnrvloping wall t) is about two inches thivlt aait sliavvrl about two inchval t'i'outthc shvll l. With lsuvh a rvtort vokingir is :coniplvtvrl in about thrvv uml onc-half hours. with Huniv grailvs of vual. while with other hiuila ol coal thv tinto ot' frohing is somewhat iiarrvasvtl. say. to t'our or tou and one-half honra. hat wvllV within commercial limits.

llvvausv ol' thv vonstant rvuiova-l of ythv vola` n tilixvil iuattvr llrirvn oli' from the coal, 4tl1v ok-ing provvv|l at a tvmpwaturv harmlts-w to thv rolatihzvfl matters. 'lhv lirogrvsisnwv invrvasv ut' tvnipvraturv resulto in a ls {rvatvr rivhl nl' nitsthan hvrvtotorv with thse oils .l

o1' a highvr gft-adv :ual thv volcv prorluvvil rvtains all ol thv tixtul varhon whivh thv coal originally varriv'l. V

With thv rvtort; ot'thv prerivnt nrvntiou :nul thv trvatnivut ot' thv eval thvrvin torvlapvraturval ululvr suhatmosphcric'prvsixurv, unil 4with thv hmlivs of voal sullventlv th'ill, sav. not inorv than about. foar inhv's in thivltnvss. amt` furthvrniorv. with thfiih'vat` so applivil ai: to first attent thu coal at one" vilg'v am] thvn progrvssively nvt through lt toward thv othvr vtlgv. at which latter point thv gasvs oF distillation are rem0ved,' 'ahd also causing the heat. to act with progressive intensioY along' the sides of the body of coal toward the print of' exit of the gases, there is obtained a smokeless fuel in the ,torni of colte burning freely with a long flame. and coutainin; r trom tire to fourteen per cent` of volatile matter, as desired. while the output ot oils condensable from the distillate is materially increased.

The amount of volatile matter driven oil from the coal raries with the temperature, a larger amount of volatile matter being` driven oli' at the lower temperature employed. lior instance, at a temperature of about 700 F. with a certain amount and grade. of coal, the volatile matters driven otl' and condensed may be.v say, t\\'cnt\'.three gallons. F. with the saine nuantity and quality of coal but fifteen `Lallonfs are obtained. When the temperature is progressively raised trom 700 l. to 1100 l the amount ot volatile matters driven oil" and condensed are. in the neighborhood of thirty rgallons.

lVhat is claimed is cl. A retort Jfor the destructive distillation of coal having a central duct and a' surroundin;r series ot relatively thin chanihera with side walls of a material ol lgreater heat conductivity than the coal, each chamber communicating r along the inner llone` edge with the. central duct. the retort being arranged for the ai'iplication ot heat thereto at the. edges of thc coal cl'iambers remoto i'rom the central duct and the withdrawal of, gases of distillation 'from the chambers by way oi the central duct.

2. A retort for the. destructive distillation of coal havin;r a columnar t'orin outer shell, a central duct, and division walls crtending from the central duct. to the outer shell in spaced relation definingy coal chambers ol" narrow width as compared with their depth, each coal chamber being in constant com nnmication with thc central duct. along its inner long edge.

i il. retort For the dcatrurtive distillation of coal` having a cent-ral duct and a snrrounding .series oi' longitudinally extended segmental coal receiving chambers. defined by radial websl extending from the central duct to tho shell of the retort. each chamber rommuniratin,| Ir along lits lont! inner edge with the. central duct and ha\'iu; r its greatest circumferential extent not more than about four inches.

4. Aretort fouille destructive distillation of coal having a 4tral gas duet and a series of coal receiving chambers normand ingr the' central duet and comuiuniratino therewitli along;` one long side. each chamber being of a .sr/.e to contain a body ol coal not more than .about tour inches in thicknelss circmnfcrtmtia-lly of the central duct.

5. A retort for the destructive distillation 'of coal comprising an elongated body portion or'shell provided with a central longitudinal duct and a surrounding series of chambers extcrioiwto the central duct and extending to tbe shell of the retort, with the said 4cln'nnbere communicating with the central duct along their inner edges and del'ming elongated receptacles for coal, each receptacle being of a circumferential width to limit the charge of coal therein to a thin elongated and radially 'extended layer.

(i. A retort for the. destructive distillation ot'. coal compriainr an elongated body por tion or shell proruled with a central longitudinal duct and a surroumlinf,r series of chambers exterior to the central duct and extending to the shell of the retort, with `the said chambers conmiunicating withthe central duct along their inner edges and dclining elongated receptacles for coal, each receptacle being of a circumferential width to limit the charge ot coal therein to a thin elongated and radially extended layer, and a heat distributing;r wall surrounding the body of the retort in spaced relation thereto.

Y. A retort for the destructive distillation ot' coal comprising a colmnnar form body portion or shell tapering from the bottom toward the top and provided with removable top and bottom heads, and a core structure' within the retort supported by and rcmovable from the core with the lower head, said .corr structure having a central tubular portion and webs radiating therctrom to the, shell of tbc retort to define. coal receiving chambers in surrounding relation to the central tubular portion and communicating therewith.

S, A retort for the destructive distillation of coal haring a columnar form body portion or shell` a core comprising a central" longitudinal tube. with webs radiating therefrom to an extent to substantially reach the shell. and removable headsl for thc shell with one head sustaining; the core and the latter being;l removable from the. Shell with Said head. i

il. A retort l`or thc destructive dialillation ol coal haring a colun'mar form body portion ol' Shell.` a corr. ol loss length than thc shell and comprisingr a central tubular duct with webs radiating,therefrom and each of a length to roach close to the, shell, the. ceutral coro having; prrlorations between the webs and the coro baring :L bottom plate sloping downwardly and outwardly toward the shell. and .said shall having removable heads al. the ends with the head at the bottom rnd sua-tainingr the coro and tbc latter` being removable 'from the retort with said head.

10. A retort for the destructive diatilla tion ot coal comprising.: a column form body portion or .shell tapering from the. bottom toward the top and provided with a core Structure having a central tubular portion with Webs radiating therefrom to the us my own,.I have hereto exed my signn-- shell if the retort to define Coal receiving ture in the presence of two witnesses. cham ers in surrounding relation to and T communicating with the Central tubular HAI EY P BOSTAPH" 5 portion, said core be'fng removable bodily Witnesess: A fromthe retort. 4 J. B. Goss,

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing FLORENCE JAcoI. 

